The duke tells the king that the rebels have attacked the government and that the emperor has banished the fifth prince. The duke says that if the emperor summons the fifth and makes him king, the rebels will be defeated. The chancellor tells the duke that he has nothing to say. He says that he believes the chancellor has done his duty. The rebels have been attacking the government, and the duke tells him that the chancellor is being accused of conspiring with the rebels. He also says that the duke has brought a letter from the emperor that shows evidence of the chancellor and his daughter collaborating with the rebel army. He tells the chancellor to write a letter to his family saying that he is communicating with them and that he can talk to them when the emperor lets him out of prison.